When you want to improve family wellness with diet and exercise, you immediately think of the physical benefits. However, not only does a good diet and exercise programme help with weight control, energy and support children’s growing bodies, it also boosts their mental wellness and academic performance.
Let’s start with diet. You’re always on the lookout for special or miracle diets but the truth is that a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats and whole grains is vital. The wellbeing of your family depends on such a diet as yours and your child’s body needs certain nutrients in proper amounts to function at its best, which is a core component in optimising brain function. According to a recent Canadian study, children whose diets were rich in fruits, vegetables, fibre, healthy proteins and other foods typically considered to be healthy were less likely to fail a literacy test. The better the diet, the better the child performed on the test.
Further, there is a reason why people call breakfast the most important meal of the day. It helps your family stay alert all day and eat less, which is a habit that has been associated with making better food choices. When it comes to the mind, academic performance gets a breakfast boost in terms of improved concentration, increased capacity to learn, improved performance in maths, better overall grades and fewer emotional and behavioural problems. Aim a breakfast of proteins, fats and carbohydrates to help boost concentration and help your kids feel fuller longer.
So that’s diet, but how can exercise help your child’s academic performance? Exercise increases the flow of blood to the brain, which means your child gets optimal levels of glucose and oxygen for better brain function. Regular exercise has been linked to aiding memory, concentration, information processing and creativity, as well as positively influencing a range of mental conditions such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study from Denmark found that children who walked or rode their bike to school demonstrated better concentration and overall academic performance than children who took the bus, though diet was another, lesser, factor. However, this shows that the combination of a good diet and exercise programme is a winning combination for clever children.
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